tmaney Namah II Prabodhani: ************************************************* tvameva sarvam mama devadeva

Transcription

1 Prabodhani: Sangh ************************************************* tvameva sarvam mama devadeva [O Lord! You alone are my mother; you alone are my father; You alone are my brother and friend. You alone are my knowledge and wealth. O Lord of Lords! You are everything for me.] *************************************************** Compilation by D Translated from Original Hindi by Satinder Dhiman, Ph.D.; Ed.D. (USA) A Manav Seva Sangh Publication 8 December 2013 Page 1

2 II Dedication! Tvadiyam vastu Govinda tubhyameva samarpyate: O Lord! I offer unto You What is really Yours only! 8 December 2013 Page 2

3 Table of Contents Prabodhani:... 1 A Sangh... 1 Dedication!... 2 Foreword... 4 Second Prayer... 5 Introduction... 6 Second Prayer Select Precious Sayings Select Sayings from Discourses (Pravachan-Sutra) December 2013 Page 3

4 Foreword He, whose personality gets eclipsed by the dark clouds of sorrow, becomes eager to enshrine in himself such boundless rays of light as are devoid of arising and setting. Only a few are able to cast themselves in such a mold and realize the great uniqueness of humanity. There is no comparison between pitch darkness and infinite light. According to this viewpoint, gathering of dark clouds of sorrow in human life is harbinger of the dawn of boundless light. A life that becomes one with such light verily becomes fulfilled forever. Such a life also leaves a pe e t p t by y of lead-me-from-darkness-to-light o t e su f ce of t e follo g which human society becomes free from sorrow for centuries to come and becomes one with endless bliss. T e follo g Prabodhani s t e l fe sto y of suc g e t soul. K ly e t e oy t. Sincerely, e A Note to the Reader The special quality of the original is hard to capture in a translation. Usually, in translation, several ideas of the author do not get expressed fully. Therefore, the discerning readers are earnestly requested, if they have the knowledge of the Hindi language, to read the original book in Hindi. 8 December 2013 Page 4

5 Second Prayer My Lord! By Thine Nectarine-Almighty- Purifying-Motiveless Grace, Grant the strength of renunciation To those afflicted with sorrow; And strength of rendering Selfless service To those who are happy; So that they may be released From the bondage of happiness and sorrow, And become blessed by Thy Divine Love! 8 December 2013 Page 5

6 Introduction Q: e! We want to know your introduction. A: T e bo y l ys ells e t. But always abide in deathlessness. Q: e e t to te you l fe-story. A: Write it down: My life-story is Benevolent Influence of Sorrow! Q: e e e you pl to go fte f s g t e p og e e A: Ho oul b ll o, c ect o t e pl ye s go g to toss t y Swami Ramsukhdasji to Swami Sharnanandji : "Maharaj, What is the touchstone that a person has realized God?" Sharnanandji replied, tersely: "Obliteration of the sense of individuality!" 8 December 2013 Page 6

7 B lee, in whose utterances, even during ordinary conversations, Eternal Truths used to be expressed spontaneously, was a revolutionary saint a Seer of Truth, a God-loving being, and a protector of humanity. Based on what was heard in his own words, from time to time on various occasions regarding his life events we come to o t t lost s eyes g t e e s bout te ye s ol. ue to t e eep so o caused by his blindness, the whole family became grief-stricken. However, due to the be ef ce t flue ce of t s so o, uest o ose s : s t e e suc st te of pp ess c s f ee f o so o He ece e t e s e t t suc pp ess, c s free from sorrow, is only accessible to dhus and saints. t s s e, fou t e p t of his life. His mind started constantly dwelling on the thought of becoming a dhu. A saint met him. They talked. The saint advised him to take refuge in the Divine protection. The int words left an indelible impress on his young, tender heart. Immediately upon accepting Go s efuge, t e e ose s e t te se lo g g to eet Go. This longing loosened the noose of all relationships with the body and the world. At the age of 19, he undertook the formal vow of renunciation ( nn s). From that time onwards, he gave up all dependence upon objects and companions and, observing the strict discipline of nn s, started living relying solely on God. B se o t e e e ts u g t e pe o pe t g to s sp tu l p ct ce, t beco es e y cle t t t e feel g of Go s Refuge beco e so o e el gly po e ful him that the expression of truth that Almighty God is always with us took no time. Once, s t el g o foot lo e f o t u c ty to g. T e e t s su e t o e pl ce. fell in the water. The river was brimful. The walking stick fell away from his hand. He knew how to swim but, without being able to see, it was difficult for him to know in which direction he should swim. He remembered his Divine Guardian and, under His protective care, he relaxed his body while he was getting drowned in the water. Immediately he felt as if someone, lifting him up from inside the water, has put him on the dry land. When he placed his hand on the earth in order to get up, he found a new walking stick in his hand! His heart melted away, so to speak, having ectly ece e Go s e otect o. A o e t Go s grandeur, and intoxicated with Divine Love, he got up and started walking. T e e e y suc ppe gs s l fe f o c o e co es to o bout s u s e ble t ust and single-minded Refuge in God. Whenever he happened to be in in van, oul go to n i temple for Darshan pu poses. e y f e s e, ou e ot ble to see y y. ou c ot e Darshan; then why do you go to the temple. epl e, y e, t bout t I am not able to see, but does 8 December 2013 Page 7

8 God also not have eyes. I am not able to see Him; but He is able to see me. It gives my Lord pleasure to see me; and that is the reason I go to the temple. What a lively trust in God! ce, s s tt g t co p t e t. A st p est lso c e s t t e e. Afte le, e s e f e e esus st. epl e c l ly, es, o o esus. T e p est s e g t e e bout esus. He g t s uest o, epl e t g e t ple su e co f e ce: e B ot e, esus s t e so of Go Go s f e ; esus s t us y e l ep e. I know him very well; Jesus is very dea to e. That an Indian nn sin cl o ge obe ll co s e esus s s e y t spirit the priest could have never even imagined for such relationship. He was stunned to hear s eply. He e e e suc e p s e e of Go s el t o s p u e t e Hindu system which could embrace the spirit of all religions in its wake. But come to think bout o t ue s e po t s. e l ty, t e e c ot be y ffe e ce of op o among religions in theism. For theism is such an all-pervasive truth of human life that the differences of temple, mosque, and church cannot possibly create divisions in it. A person who engages in religious warfare while being a theist is actually a big atheist. Because the true meaning of theism lies in acknowledging a spiritual relationship with God! According to Vaishnava bel ef syste, t s s e ly t e o s p of Go. t s e y b s s, ccepte e otee, t Jesus, and Prophet Mohammad to be the supreme Vaishnavas bec use co s e e Go s e usb ; t Jesus considered God as his Father; and Prophet Mohammad considered God as his friend. And all three were supreme devotees of God. Fo Go s e ot o, t s po t t to co s e Go s our own and to provide Him nectar of our love by being a lover. Whether someone will worship in a temple or recite Koran in a mosque or will pray in a church such questions do not matter at all. If someone will keep a loving relationship with God by considering God as his very own and, by extension, will have a feeling of goodwill and amity towards all creatures, then he will find God everywhere and not ot e se. T s s u lte ble t ut. s se ll sp tu l sp ts to ccept t s truth. He has expressed this view in his spiritual discourses a view, following which, the religious unity can be restored and preserved. T e sp tu l p ecepto, o t te to t e l fe of e u c te nn ), o ce tol : y so, when you will become spiritually free, the whole creation will become eager to serve you, and the whole world will be ready to fulfill your wants. The trees will provide you with flowers and fruits, and ferocious lions will protect you under their loving care. Having said so, the reverend recited the following self-composed couplet: One who dies while living becomes immortal; By offering his heart, he attains the Beloved! 8 December 2013 Page 8

9 To e le l g e s to e to t e f lse ego; to beco e selfless o es eless to beco e effo tless. To offe o e s e t e s su e e g to Go p o g t e ect of lo e to Go by co s e g o ly Go s ou o. e b ce the words of his Guru in their entirety and saw them fructify hundred percent in his life. By renouncing all attachments, by becoming desireless, selfless, and effortless, he attained the life Supreme marked by spiritual freedom and Super-Consciousness; and by becoming a devotee of God, he became fulfilled with the infinite nectar of Divine Love. By becoming free from the grim pain of dependence upon others, he became divinely intoxicated with the bliss of immortality. t s co ect o, ated one of his experiences. Once, his body had become unhealthy. He had just returned from his travels from Uttarkhand. His body had become very weak by an attack of dil-diarrhea and he was also having a fever. He had been sick for about 40 days. Accord g to t e p ys c s op o, s pulse be t s c t g t e ec y of t e bo y. F e s, e otees, p ys c s e p esse t e co ce. s bo y s b oug t to be laid down on the floor after preparing a proper bed made of kusha-grass and deerskin. The lo e o es e e st g o ll s es ou. T e e otee octo s, s le g. e t s felt t e p gs of t e t obb g e ts of t e e otees. T s dispassionate saint felt great disturbance watching this and wondered why the loved ones were so so o ful. Let e see t e t s, e use to self. As e st te obse g self in that state, he felt very blissful. The thought of leaving the body felt so blissful and so light that it was beyond any measure. By this experience, he reached at the certainty that there is no pain or sorrow in dying. Since the individual wants to maintain the body in tact that he feels sorrowful and fearful while dying; otherwise, it is all bliss and only bliss. This joy got spread all over his dead-like body. He was watching, as it were, his body lying on the floor and hearing a g oup of f e s s y, Loo o ppy s F o b t, u l t es such as breadth of intellect, tenderness of the heart, and awareness about life. Finding suitable opportunities, these qualities came to be developed to the very fullest extent. Once he was sitting near his spiritual preceptor. There arose in his mind the intention to study the scriptures and the Upanishads. Not being able to see, he verily let this thought rest u etly s. R g t y, s te c e s, B ot e T e o le ge of Srutis becomes fest ste y o ts o. ol tu e s ts se y s le ce s ts lesso pl. bec e e y ppy upo e g t s o e ful et o fo t e cult t o of knowledge. He made his mind steady in the solitude. In steady mind, such knowledge arose which was never possible through the study of scriptures. In the light of that knowledge, he came to know about all the secrets regarding the beginning and the end of the universe. The meaning of the benevolence of the Creator of the universe and the benevolent design of 8 December 2013 Page 9

10 human life became clear to him. He came to know what was worthy to be known; for, the Supreme Knowledge, by virtue of which everything becomes known, became manifest in him. t t e ope g of t e e -eye, e g e so uc co pete ce t t e bec e c p ble of see g t e oute o l. He coul see e e ything inside as well as outside. He used to live fearlessly, free from any sense of duality. The sorrow caused by the loss of outer vision ended forever! So much growth occurred within him during so little time. Friends, who had seen him before, used to say that within a matter of days, the deep disquiet he used to feel inside to be one with truth, now got transformed into the Peace Supreme. His face became illumined and beaming with the fire of knowledge. He started remaining established in his eternal state of be g, spo t eously. Go s lo e st te flo g t oug s e t, ose e e touc s great blessing for the close friends. The i s that are attained through Yog became evident in him spontaneously but he used to keep them secret. His life became a living symbol of Yog (Communion), Bodha (Realization), and Prema (Divine Love). That is why by virtue of his presence, in the atmosphere around him, waves of love used to keep arising. This truth became fully evident in his life that when the love-ele e t beco es fest y s t s l fe, e becomes all-expansive ( i. y see e s co g close co t ct t, tt cte by the feeling of an unknown sweetness, used to remain seated, spell-bound, around him. When t e scuss o eg g t e p t of lo e use to beg oul st t esc b g t e sweet conversation between the Divine Lover and the Beloved the listeners who were believers in God, used to forget all about themselves. Many listeners have told us their e pe e ce t t, s o s, s ect e l fe tself use to flo touc t e l ste e s hearts, by virtue of which the listeners used to experience a sense of elevation and elation in themselves. And a great bliss used to be felt! s style of uest o s s e s s co p ble. eft ess of e p ess o, liberating humor, and sharp reproach for the purpose of dispelling doubts accompanied by motherly love these endearing qualities were a special source of attraction for the spiritual see e s. l e e by e - e l t o, s efut ble e so g t e ut ost cl ty, firmness, and doubtlessness. Nowhere in his discourses and literature will be found any e t o of sc ptu l p oof. e t t t e self-evident truth needs no proof. He used to never speak after having first thought about the topic. Many times, per context, he had said, e b ot e lso l ste ust l e you o. l ste e too. T e st e s of o le ge love used to flow spontaneously in his ego-free speech, hearing which great pundits used to say and still say so that the profound mysteries of philosophy that could not be comprehended by years of scriptural study have become clear in the discourses of this unlettered saint. 8 December 2013 Page 10

11 In 1921, a non-cooperation movement was started for the independence of the country. T e bo y s u e fo t e o l ly f patriotic saints in whose life this truth had found expression could not miss this opportunity to serve the country. They jumped right in the wave of e olut o fo epe e ce. e y, o e of s gu u s f e, tc g be g busy t t e e olut o, s to : y e so you le e your house for this pu pose s e e t g e t f ess: Not t ll s ot ble to o away with my attachment for service for my country through merely thinking about it ( i r); t t s y e g ge t s. Ag, e s e, Ho e you o g epl e, always abide in the indivisible bliss. I do not do yt g t ll. e le eeply e g ge service, the indivisibility of bliss beyond body-consciousness was always alive in him. Such a profound steadfastness in actions has not been observed elsewhere in any other person who s go e beyo t e t of ( t ta. j was such a remarkable human being! The human history started to get beclouded by the darkness of inhumanity. Intense killings of human beings took place during the Second World War. Due to the explosion of the atom bomb, Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki presented heart-shrilling picture. Earth and sky trembled with the soul-wrenching cries of countless people who had been the victims of forceful, evil actions under the name of religion during the India-Pakistan division. Seeing all this, the ever-new, tender heart of the saint melted with compassion. t s e e s t s co p ss o te e t greatly to see the world bent on destroying each other, divided by narrow-mindedness, based on the various differences of caste, color, religion, status, ideology, and isms. Having seen Indian citizens fighting over their rights, he gave up active service of the Congress and, through deep contemplation, started pondering over the solution to the myriad challenges facing the humankind. He had the following questions before him: 1. How to seek the [spiritual] welfare of the individual and create an elegant society? 2. How to safeguard the world peace? 3. How to eliminate religious differences? 4. How to remove social inequalities? 5. How to awaken the sleeping consciousness in man? 6. How to fulfill human life? That is, how to fulfill the need for peace, salvation, and reverence? Moved by kindness, led by oneness of all beings, and as a result of deep reflection, t e s e s to t e fo ego g uest o s co e to l g t t e s t s t e fo of t e Fu e t l c ples of u ty. j fashioned these principles in the 8 December 2013 Page 11

12 fo of o el e olut o y syste of t oug t. n n is the symbolic representation of the same system of thought. j, a crest-jewel of saints, established n Sangh so t t t oug ts e u, fo ce tu es to co e, u ty s ee s eg g knowledge, faith, and action may be served. It was registered in Its main office is in in van. The need for establishing this organization was felt due to the fact that did not want to publish, under his personal name, the universal system of thought that he had developed in response to his internal struggle. Those who are desirous of keeping the ego in check stay away from personal name and fame. There was another important reason lso. Acco g to s e po t, to e p ess t e t ut of l fe t t s ot epe e t o any time, place, opinion, religion, tradition, and status through the medium of an individual is to diminish its value. Moreover, those who have not retained any existence apart from the reality of their Beloved how can they say anything under their name. Due these very rare reasons, n Sangh was established. Since then, in various parts of the country, through the medium of n n, t e se ce of e g e e y pe so t e sleep g u ty s be g e e e. j was always eager for each person to become independent (spiritually-free) and be able to seek his own spiritual welfare. s co g to t s o l ppe e t e fo of spec l glo y as acknowledged by all contemporary great people and saints. Brilliant knowledge, irrefutable reasoning, simple faith, and one-pointed devotion all these dimensions were extant in him to the highest possible degree. Such a remarkable combination of these rare qualities has ot bee see else e e s s p ese t estee e. t ll, e e e e t e mistake of regarding all the above listed divine qualities as his own. Nothing is mine. I do not need anything. I am nothing. Almighty God is my own. Contemplation of these perennial truths was his life and formed the very core of his te c gs. T s s bee t e g e t u l ty of s te c gs t t e ot let see e s get struck on external regulations, procedures and practices that bear their result through practice. Nor did he let seekers get tangled with various philosophical differences of op o. ot use to s st o o oppose ny system of spiritual practice. He never imposed his viewpoint on others. Though himself a staunch theist, he never preached 8 December 2013 Page 12

13 about theism. He was a tattva-darshi 1 saint. That is why he never considered any path, among the paths of ti na, and yog, either higher or lower, or comparatively easier or harder. He p ocl e : y p losop es; o e l fe. To ll t e sp tu l sp ts, e provided the bold promise that they can, in the beginning, attain fullness of life by following any spiritual practice according to their interest, qualification, strength, faith, and selfinquiry. One who is devotedly engaged in actions, one who is a Yogi, one who practices selfinquiry, and one who believes in God all of them attain life nectarine infused with Divine Consciousness. In the fullness of life, all spiritual aspirants attain oneness with yog, boddh, and prem. 2 This is a highly revolutionary thought which frees many spiritual aspirants from u e ous p oble s. T s e olut o y e of s ts e p ess o cle ly s discourses. There is no problem regarding the spiritual welfare of the individual and the creation of a splend soc ety ose solut o s ot poss ble by follo g s te c gs. Acco g to, t e ost be ut ful p ctu e of u l fe s s follo s: Let the Body be of service to the world, Let the ego be free from pride, and Let the heart be filled with Divine Love. He exemplified this ideal through his life and taught this lesson through his supreme existence. When he realized that his mortal body is no longer fit for the service of the society, he then internally determined the time, date, and process of giving up his mortal coil, and said: 1. I am not the body in the three periods (of past, present or future). 2. I will not feel any pain by the destruction of the body. I will abide in great bliss. 3. With the removal of the bodily separation, the endless bliss of the endless communion with God will remain. That is why there should be no sad assemblies at the relinquishment of the body; only satsang commemorations will be held. 1 tt - e s ee of T ut, t e o e o s e l e e pe e ce t e T ut f st-hand. t e B g G t, Chapter 4 verse 34, Lord Krishna exhorts Arjuna to go to tattva- s and reverently seek the Knowledge Supreme from them. Swamiji was one such rare tattva-. 2 s te ology, yog conforms to the path of Karma Yoga marked by selfless service culminating in non- tt c e t sp ss o ; bodh conforms to na Yoga marked by self-inquiry culminating in selfe l t o ; prem conforms to the path of Bhakti Yoga culminating in Divine communion through devotion. 8 December 2013 Page 13

14 4. No special decorations of the body will be made and there will not be any processions. 5. At t e g e s e, t e e o t be y e t fy g sy bols o s, o flo e s will be offered. 6. The spiritual practice never dies. Therefore, the pledge of service, renunciation, and divine love will grow and spread throughout the society. 7. Whoever is interested in serving this body should serve n n ; The Sangh is my spiritual body and that will endure permanently. 8. Those who love me should love the Lord since Divine-Love is my very life. 9. Those preachers who inspire faith in their own personality instead of God and establish relationship with their personality instead of God they indulge in outrageous evil. 10. Except God, there is nothing, there is [absolutely] nothing; verily there is nothing. 11. The Seer-Saint of the unmanifest Oneness inside the manifest manifoldness, said: i. There is no other this is the mantra of religion. ii. There is no one else this is the mantra of Divine Love. e see e s, ccept t s t ut : Al g ty Go s you o ; l e by be g of Him o ly; o fo H lo e. T s s t e blesse -p o se of gu that you will live in H fo e e. By sharing his nectarine teachings, by relinquishing the perishable body at self-will, this God-Realized saint taught the art of living and the art of becoming immortal by dying. At the lotus-feet of this Saint of Saints, we offer our countless obeisances. As lo g s estee e s l e, e s e s l fe-bestowing message while traveling nonstop to different villages, regions with s dhus and saints, seekers, social workers, literati, and people from all sections of the society. Now upon his being one with the Divine, this work is carried out through the medium n n. Saints are immortal. Their teachings are immortal. May we all, brothers and sisters, be one with the life immortal; with this feeling of goodwill! Respectfully, e 8 December 2013 Page 14

15 Second Prayer My Lord! By Thine Nectarine, Almighty, Purifying and Motiveless Grace, Grant all mankind the ability to respect discriminative intellect; and to make proper use of one s strength. And Oh! Ocean of Compassion! By Thine boundless Compassion Destroy quickly attachment and hatred. Let the life of everyone be full of Service, Renunciation, and Love 8 December 2013 Page 15

16 1. Self-observation or seeing one's own faults in the light of the intrinsic faculty of discriminative intellect (viveka). 2. Resolving not to repeat any mistakes committed previously and praying with a simple faith. 3. Applying self-inquiry regarding oneself and faith regarding others; that is, to apply justice toward oneself and love and forgiveness toward others. 4. T sfo g o e s o o l c cte by est t of se ses, selfless se ce, contemplation of God, and search for Truth. 5. Not considering others' duties as one's own right; others' generosity as one's own goodness; and others' weakness as one's own strength. 6. Despite having no family or ethnic connection with others, to have mutual interaction and good-faith in accordance with family feeling; that is, to have the unity of affection despite the diversity of actions. 7. e g t oug ct o s t ose close to o eself to t e best of o e s c p b l ty. 8. Practicing moderation and self-restraint in diet and living habits and self-reliance in daily tasks. 9. bell s g o e s pe so l ty by g t e bo y -working, the mind disciplined, the intellect discerning, the heart loving, and the ego pride-less. 10. Regarding the objects as more important than money, the people as more important than the objects, the discriminative intellect as more important than the people, and the Truth as more important than the discriminative intellect. 11. Making the future bright by giving up useless worrying and by making the proper use of the present. 8 December 2013 Page 16

17 Select Precious Sayings 1. [Compared to] anything that appears very far to you, know that your body is no less far from it. 2. [Compared to] anything that appears very close to you, God is even closer than it. 3. Love flows only through that which is complete. Love steadily abides in one who is desireless (or selfless) and who does not desire sense enjoyment and spiritual freedom. 4. Whatever love is felt in the lovers, it is a reflection of ever-complete, Divine Love. By becoming desireless, an individual, despite being incomplete, becomes a recipient of love of the Ever-Complete. Only then the shadow of Love-Complete falls on him. 5. e Lo e s ot yo e s pe so l p ope ty. t s Go s e y tu e. 6. In the language of love, to desire the desirous is inhuman. Select Sayings from Discourses (Pravachan-Sutra) 1. Every object of the transient world is continuously burning in the fire of Time. Therefore, in t e p ese t t e tself, o e s oul, by g effo ts pp op te to o e s co pete ce, t y to beco e o e t o e s ob ect of Lo e ( - tra). 2. The true, unswerving devotion ( nn n Bhakti ) is this: Withdrawing oneself from all ect o s e pe e c g o e s ob ect of Lo e.e., Go o e s o self. 3. The supreme penance (tapa) is this: To bear happily the difficulties encountered on the way to c y g out o e s o tu l ut es svadharma). 4. Put an end to all those volitions ( kalpas) which cannot be publicized fearlessly before the general public. 5. Do not let the happiness and sorrow that come on their own rule over you. 6. Surrender everything unto the search for Truth. 7. In order to put an end to your weaknesses, pray restlessly before your object of Love. 8. Purify your heart by contemplating on Reality (t tt - i r) and by feeling the pangs of separation from your object of Love ( - tra ki vireha). 9. Contemplating about virtue is a greater virtue than virtue itself since by contemplation one attains steadfastness in virtue. 10. Cultivate the habit of contemplation of God (Bhagavad-chintan) to eradicate contemplation of sense-objects (visheya-chintan). (Sant-Vani, Part 3, p. 175) 8 December 2013 Page 17